Finding Him

C H A P T E R - T W E N T Y - T W O

That only makes me more curious.

What are you hiding, piccolina?

My men take precautions to the door and break it down. Smoke clears out the opening. I hold my breath as I enter.

There's nothing except steps on the floor echoing through the cold warehouse. My men scatter. I try to feel for my heartbeat but it's seemed to walk away. I open my mouth to call for Ellie but I can't seem to open my mouth. Glued shut.

"Don." I hear Leon shout and I'm running away from my spot and towards his panicked voice. I follow into a room.

A bloody room.

A silent room.

A silent room that I've seemed to find my heartbeat in. Pumping blood has never hit so hard in my chest before. I don't like the noise.

"Ellie." My word falls short, swallowing the lump in my throat. She's hurt.

I manage to pull myself together for her. Be strong for her.

"Ellie!" I shake her body slightly but there's nothing in response. "Ellie." Cracking a whisper, I silently plea for her to be okay.

This isn't how we end.

This is how vengeance begins.

• • •

"She's fine. The bullet didn't do much." Carlo is the first to tell me. "Whoever pulled the trigger was careless. In a rush."

I blow out a puff of air and lean back. My head hits the solid wall behind me. I nod.

Ten years.

I should be mad. I should be throwing a fit and screaming. Ripping heads off. I wish I was mad, furious. I wish I had it in me to fight but, but I can't.

I am exhausted.

Ten years.

I'm tired of having to prove over and over again that I deserve a happy ending. I'm tired of fighting for my life. Eleonora's life. Fighting for family.

This is— this is unfair.

Where did I go wrong?

When did I go wrong?

"Okay." I mutter.

Carlo stares at me. He then nods and walks off.

I breathe heavy breaths. I can hear each inhale, each worry crippling my ability to understand the level of exhaustion I'm experiencing.

"Val?" Savino's voice fills my ears. I stay stuck in my seat. "Don't— Don't you want t-to go in?"

No. Why is my answer no?

I can't do it. I just can't do it.

I can't open my mouth and speak. I don't want to. I don't want to explain myself.

"Valerius—"

"Maybe— maybe we should just leave him alone." Savino counters Enzo softly. "We should go."

Suddenly, it becomes hard to breathe.

Is this real?

This isn't a dream. This is too real.

I don't hear anything else but the patter of retreating footsteps for the next hour or so. I'm not sure, I lost track of time. Time spent cowering from  the world.

A knock pulls me out of my trance though.

Two knocks.

A pause in between each.